Don’t dilly-dally in review of foreign worker policies, government told

Ex-immigration official Ishak Mohamed says the government cannot afford to take too long to coordinate policies and the management of foreign workers.

PETALING JAYA: A former immigration official has called on the government to speed up its review of policies on the management of foreign workers to prevent any disturbance to the current system for renewing work permits.

Ishak Mohamed, a former immigration department enforcement chief, said there had been delays in the renewal of permits ever since the new government took over Putrajaya.

Citing information from immigration officials, he said this had been the case since October, when an independent committee was formed to coordinate overall policies and the management of foreign workers.

“Although the government’s intentions are good, this should not take too long. Otherwise, it will affect certain sectors and the hiring of foreign workers which will burden employers as well,” he told FMT.

However, he said foreigners working as maids were unlikely to face much trouble as there is an online system in place for them.

Several foreign workers recently told FMT they had faced delays in renewing their work permits since June last year.

Tenaganita executive director Glorene A Das had attributed the problem in part to a lack of transparency in procedure.

Ishak said given the country’s need for foreign workers, especially in sectors such as construction, it should not delay too long in studying and implementing its policies.

He suggested that Putrajaya instead turn its attention to the recruitment process of such workers.

“Since my time in service, bringing foreign workers into the country has been regarded as a lucrative business.

“Some parties benefit a lot from it, and there is not enough transparency. This is what the government has to look into.”

FMT has contacted the home ministry for comment and is awaiting a response. - FMT